The Half Court Press Podcast

The Half Court Press Podcast is back! Goalmouth Gossip is our latest series, where we focus on the first player on any hockey team sheet. Tao MacLeod talks to a variety of goalkeepers from around the world about training, development and personal backgrounds.

In episode two we hear from James Mazarelo of England and Great Britain, as well as Jess Buchanan of Scotland and the Great Britain Elite Development Programme (EDP). James Mazarelo hails from the Northern English city of Manchester, where he started his hockey career with local club Bowdon, before moving on to Loughborough Students. Now he plays his domestic hockey for Surbiton, whilst being a part of the British setup. Originally from Glasgow, Jess Buchanan has recently moved back to the UK to be a part of the GB EDP, having spent the last few seasons playing in goal for Catalonian side Atlètic Terrassa Hockey Club. Next season she will be playing for Exeter University, whilst looking to progress in her international career, with Scotland and GB. In this interview we chat about playing styles, the differences and similarities between indoor and outdoor hockey for goalies, as well as how the aerial rule affects goalkeepers.  

The Half Court Press Podcast is back! Goalmouth Gossip is our latest series, where we focus on the first player on any hockey team sheet. Tao MacLeod talks to a variety of goalkeepers from around the world about training, development and personal backgrounds.

In episode one we hear from Aleisha Power, of the Australian Hockeyroos, and Brooke Roberts, of the New Zealand Black Sticks. Their friendship goes back several years, having first met at the Junior World Cup, whilst representing their respective national youth teams. Since then, both have represented their countries at the Commonwealth Games and the Hockey World Cup. In this interview we chat about overcoming challenges, goalkeeper playing styles and who the other goalkeepers that they appreciate and enjoy…

The Half Court Press Podcast is available on…

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Ross Stott is a former international hockey player, who earned over 120 caps for the Scottish National Team and played in both the Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Originally from Tayside, he came through the youth ranks at Dundee Wanderers, before playing for local rivals Grove Menszieshill Hockey Club, as well as Kelburne H.C. After moving to England he played for Bowdon H.C. and is now in his second stint at East Grinstead H.C.

Mental Health in Hockey is a three part series from the Half Court Press Podcast. Ross Stott talks to Tao MacLeod about different mental health aspects within the game. In Episode One, Ross talks about his own experiences. In Episode Two we talk about how sport can positively affect mental health. In Episode Three Ross and Tao discuss how different organisations can help those with mental health issues.

Warning; these episodes deal with depression and other mental health issues, which might be triggering for some listeners. There is also a smattering of swearing and strong natured language.

Recommended reading:

Everything Is F*cked; A Book About Hope (Mark Manson)

The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck; A Counterintuitive Approach To Living A Good Life (Mark Manson)

Ross Stott is a former international hockey player, who earned over 120 caps for the Scottish National Team and played in both the Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Originally from Tayside, he came through the youth ranks at Dundee Wanderers, before playing for local rivals Grove Menszieshill Hockey Club, as well as Kelburne H.C. After moving to England he played for Bowdon H.C. and is now in his second stint at East Grinstead H.C.

Mental Health in Hockey is a three part series from the Half Court Press Podcast. Ross Stott talks to Tao MacLeod about different mental health aspects within the game. In Episode One, Ross talks about his own experiences. In Episode Two we talk about how sport can positively affect mental health. In Episode Three Ross and Tao discuss how different organisations can help those with mental health issues.

Warning; these episodes deal with depression and other mental health issues, which might be triggering for some listeners. There is also a smattering of swearing and strong natured language.

Recommended reading:

Everything Is F*cked; A Book About Hope (Mark Manson)

The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck; A Counterintuitive Approach To Living A Good Life (Mark Manson)

Ross Stott is a former international hockey player, who earned over 120 caps for the Scottish National Team and played in both the Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Originally from Tayside, he came through the youth ranks at Dundee Wanderers, before playing for local rivals Grove Menszieshill Hockey Club, as well as Kelburne H.C. After moving to England he played for Bowdon H.C. and is now in his second stint at East Grinstead H.C.

Mental Health in Hockey is a three part series from the Half Court Press Podcast. Ross Stott talks to Tao MacLeod about different mental health aspects within the game. In Episode One, Ross talks about his own experiences. In Episode Two we talk about how sport can positively affect mental health. In Episode Three Ross and Tao discuss how different organisations can help those with mental health issues.

Warning; these episodes deal with depression and other mental health issues, which might be triggering for some listeners. There is also a smattering of swearing and strong natured language.

Recommended reading:

Everything Is F*cked; A Book About Hope (Mark Manson)

The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck; A Counterintuitive Approach To Living A Good Life (Mark Manson)

The latest season of the Half Court Press Podcast takes a look at several players who have been entertaining us at this summers tournaments and elsewhere. In Hockey Player Profiles, Tao MacLeod talks to a variety of international players, within the sport of hockey, about their lives, careers and backgrounds.

In episode seven we speak to goalkeeper Phumelela Mbande (now Hlophe), who since the recording of this episode has married her long term partner. She has had a very successful career. As the goalkeeper for the South African hockey team she has won the African Cup of Nations, played in two Commonwealth Games, two World Cups and the Tokyo Olympic Games, most recently as captain. In this interview we talk to Phumelela about what she does outside of hockey, her thoughts on how her team has performed in the recent international tournaments and some suggestions on how to develop the sport.

The Half Court Press Podcast is available on…

iTunes

Spotify

Google Podcasts

Apple Podcasts

Breaker

Overcast

Anchor

Pocket Casts

RadioPublic

The latest season of the Half Court Press Podcast takes a look at several players who have been entertaining us at this summers tournaments and elsewhere. In Hockey Player Profiles, Tao MacLeod talks to a variety of international players, within the sport of hockey, about their lives, careers and backgrounds.

In episode six we speak to Fiona Burnet of Wimbledon Hockey Club and the Scottish National Team. Originally from the West Coast of Scotland, she worked her way up through the ranks and now plays her senior matches as a forward. Having recently competed for Scotland in the Commonwealth Games, in Birmingham, she is also a part of the GB Hockey Olympic training squad. Fiona also works within the realms of the UK Parliament within International Relations, managing bi-lateral relations between the United Kingdom and the Asia-Pacific region. In this job she also engages in female political empowerment and climate related activities. In this interview, we talk about the Commonwealth Games, how to develop hockey and environmental sustainability within the game hockey.

The Half Court Press Podcast is available on…

iTunes

Spotify

Google Podcasts

Apple Podcasts

Breaker

Overcast

Anchor

Pocket Casts

RadioPublic

The latest season of the Half Court Press Podcast takes a look at several players who have been entertaining us at this summers tournaments and elsewhere. In Hockey Player Profiles, Tao MacLeod talks to a variety of international players, within the sport of hockey, about their lives, careers and backgrounds.

In episode five we hear from Hockey Australia goalkeeper Aleisha Power. The twenty-five year old has recently represented her country at the Hockey World Cup (winning the bronze medal) and the Commonwealth Games, where she was a part of the side that won silver. In addition to playing for the Hockeyroos, Aleisha represents the Perth Thundersticks in the state representative franchise league, Hockey One. In this interview we talk about the positives of women’s hockey, her international experiences over the summer and the hockey culture in Australia.

The Half Court Press Podcast is available on…

iTunes

Spotify

Google Podcasts

Apple Podcasts

Breaker

Overcast

Anchor

Pocket Casts

RadioPublic

The latest season of the Half Court Press Podcast takes a look at several players who have been entertaining us at this summers tournaments and elsewhere. In Hockey Player Profiles, Tao MacLeod talks to a variety of international players, within the sport of hockey, about their lives, careers and backgrounds.

In episode four we hear from England and Great Britain player, Darcy Bourne. The 20 year old forward is a recent addition to the centralised programme, having made her international debut against Argentina in February of 2022. Having spent most of her domestic career playing for Surbiton, Bourne has also spent some time in the United States where she was a part of the hockey team at Duke University. In this interview she speaks about her experiences playing at the 2022 World Cup, her inclusivity activism with the Beyond Our Game organisation (which she co-founded) and Spencer Lynx Hockey Club (for whom she is an ambassador).

The Half Court Press Podcast is available on…

iTunes

Spotify

Google Podcasts

Apple Podcasts

Breaker

Overcast

Anchor

Pocket Casts

RadioPublic

The latest season of the Half Court Press Podcast takes a look at several players who have been entertaining us at this summers tournaments and elsewhere. In Hockey Player Profiles, Tao MacLeod talks to a variety of international players, within the sport of hockey, about their lives, careers and backgrounds.

In episode three we hear from New Zealand Black Sticks goalkeeper Brooke Roberts. The Kiwi international has recently competed in the 2022 Hockey World Cup, as well as the hockey tournament of the Commonwealth Games, in Birmingham. In this interview she talks about her participation in these competitions, her journey as an elite level athlete and what she does outside of hockey as a business owner.

The Half Court Press Podcast is available on…

iTunes

Spotify

Google Podcasts

Apple Podcasts

Breaker

Overcast

Anchor

Pocket Casts

RadioPublic